Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-02
a DIsAsrRous AoosDBsr.


The Cylinder Head OF am Engimo
Pushed Oat-The Engineer Escsspes
The usually quiet precincts of that
part of the Ninth ward called Brandy
wine Village, were greatly alarmed and
excited Friday morning over what was
thought at first TO have been q very seri-
ous accident, resulting in the loss OF lite,
but which proved to be untrue. About
7l5 o'clock this morning, shortly after
the full force In the Arlington mills had
begun their work, the cylinder hend of
the engine was knocked ont, the engineer
knocked down and stunned, while the
kissing from the escaping steam could be
heard all over the neighborhood. The
employees In the adjacent shops began to
rush out into the street, but when the
smoke had cleared away it was found that
the injury to the engine was the most
serious damage done, although the engi-
neer, John Wier, had narrow escape
from instant death.
At the time of the accident, the engine
was running at almost full speed indieHt-
ing about 500 horse power, while the
engineer was engaged in his SECULAR
duties. Suddenly, without waning, the
steel band in which the crank pin re-
wolves aa ii drives the piston forward and
backward, became fractured from the
heavy strain, and tremendous momentum
of the piston, as IL came forward ON the
next revolution, went through the cylin-
der and drove the cylinder head out like
piece of rotten timber. The engineer,
who was standing at the side of the
engine near the cylinder. was thrown vio-
lently down small flight OF stairs
against the wall, while the kissing and
noise Of the escaping steam created the
effect as though pandemonium had been
removed out there. Though stunned, the
engineer bravely crawIed back through
the binding s,,atin hpd after cropping
about, finally f,mna the valve and cut of
the sieani. ne escap,d with only few
slight bruises and the immediate shock
from ilIe conclusion. pr. Shortlidge was
called, hut found no fractures.
The walls uf the engine room were
slightly cracked and the plastering
shaken down in places. The engine, it is
thought, is o total wreck. The cylinder
is utterly destroyed. The head which
was knocked out was made of iron over
an inch thick, showing the tremendous
force exerted. Although some parts of
the engine are still good, all are out of
line, and it will require an investigation
by competent machinist to ascertain
what the exact damage Is. The mills
were closed ut once, and will remain SO,
with the exception of the machine depart
ment, until new motive power can be sup
piled. The loss will be severe ON the
firm, and the 500 employees alike. Tho
mills are Just in the midst of q busy sea-
son, while the employees can not we'll
of q, Vas,,of,, s1la ln.,nx M flo t,nflla
are the chief support of that section.
An incident, showing the force with
which tho cylinder and steam were driven
out, was demonstrated in the fact that the
shirt, coat and vest of Engineer Wier,
which were hanging directly in front of
the cylinder head, were torn and ripped
up so that they looked like the garments
of the most forsaken tramp. The engine
was only overhauled and put in good
condition by Robert Wetherill & Go. in
February last. The engineer had made
plans for putting o clamp on the band
where the fracture occurred, so MS TO pre-.
vent its swaying and thus reduce the
strain, but tho plans had not yet been
oonsummated. The fracture of the band
looks old in places as though it had ex-
listed for some time, although nothing
was apparent on the surface.
Phe accident seems to have been purely
accidental although heavy financial loss
is the result of very slight defect. John
Greer the manager and one of the own
ers of the mills has suffered considerably
Though fires and accidents during the
past two years. His large mill in Phila-
delphia burned down not many months
ago and since he came to the mills in this
city, there was considerable loss by
the recent fire and now is added the dis
astrous results of the accident Friday
morning.